A new report from John Hopkins University School of Medicine found platelets, known mostly for their role in blood clotting, play a critical part in organ rejection. Platelets bring together immune system inflammatory responses which play a critical role in organ transplantation.
 
Information about the relationship between platelets and organ rejection began when platelets were observed feeding tissue rejection. Since platelets are part of the sustained and general immune system response, they can trigger or make organ rejection worse because they see the foreign organ as a threat.
 
More research must be completed to gain more information about the role of platelets and organ rejection.

This article originally appeared in the March 2009 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.